Seafields aims to develop offshore farms for the floating seaweed sargassum, which it will then bale and sink in the deep ocean in order to lock away carbon.
Seafields’ approach combines two potential ocean-based carbon dioxide removal approaches: seaweed aquaculture and artificial upwelling. The floating seaweed sargassum will be cultivated via offshore farms, irrigated by pipes that bring nutrient-rich waters to the surface. Once ready, the sargassum will be processed onboard, where valuable nutrients will be extracted before the remaining biomass is baled at a depth of 4,000 meters for long-term sequestration.
Sargassum is extremely fast-growing with the potential to double in biomass every 11 days, thus creating the potential to more efficiently store carbon than other species. Sargassum farms may relieve pressures on coastal ecosystems by creating oases of life in the ocean deserts, thus bolstering habitats for crustaceans, and serving as fish nurseries. Additionally, Seafields’ system operations will be powered by solar and wind, minimizing energy consumption.
Offshore marine aquaculture poses challenges due to remoteness, unpredictability of weather patterns, and environmental conditions. Ocean Visions will provide expert support to help assess and offer guidance as it relates to needed deep ocean infrastructure, the potential environmental impacts of the sargassum bales, and carbon sequestration rates.
Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
CEO at Enviromer and Research Fellow at Centre for Sustainability Transitions
View Seafields’ annual engagement report (September 2023)
Wim M. van Rees is Assistant Professor in the department of Mechanical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received his BSc and MSc from Delft University of Technology in Marine Techology, and his PhD from ETH Zurich in 2014. In 2015 he performed research as a postdoctoral fellow in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University, and he joined the MIT faculty in 2017. His awards and recognitions include an American Bureau of Shipping Career Development Chair (2017), a Seagrant Doherty Professorship in Ocean Utilization (2019), a Department of Energy Early Career Award (2020), and an Army Research Office Early Career Award (2021).
Wim’s main research interests are to develop and apply advanced numerical simulations to solve problems in bio-inspired propulsion, vortex dynamics, and shape-shifting structures. His vision for future research is to exploit biologically inspired active and passive deformation of flexible structures in fluid flows for actuation, locomotion, and renewable energy harvesting.
Tanya Brodie Rudolph is an international environmental and ocean lawyer with decades of experience in practice. She is the founder of a multidisciplinary sustainability advisory, a passionate ocean advocate and a Research Fellow at the Centre for Sustainability Transitions in South Africa. Tanya is a specialist in international law of the sea. She is an expert on the High Level Panel for the Ocean, and focuses on transdisciplinary collaboration for ocean solutions to support a transition to sustainability. As an experienced Practioner, lecturer, and international speaker, Tanya has a particular interest in the evolution of law and governance to meet current and evolving circumstances.